FEATURE STORY
ALPHA PHI ALPHA AND THE
FOUNDING OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS By Brother Wallace L. Walker
n less than eight years, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will enter its second millennium. More than 92 years ago, a group of college-age men founded the Fraternity at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Despite their tender years, the seven young men were clear in their motive, philosophy and purpose in forming the nation's first African-American intercollegiate Fraternity. The influence and impact of Alpha Phi Alpha's individual members on American society and the country's history since the organization's founding in 1906 is without question. For example, in the world of sports, science and journalism Alpha Phi Alpha Brothers have left their indelible imprint. In professional sports, the heroic exploits of Brother Jesse Owens in the 1932 Olympic Games in Germany remain as a symbol of pride and courage for freedom lovers everywhere. In science, Brother Garrett Morgan's invention of the gas mask and traffic signal have helped revolutionize society. In journalism, Brother Mai Goode, the first African-American network reporter, has helped blaze the trail for generations of minorities seeking to become part of the news media. There are many ways to illustrate the extraordinary vision of Alpha Phi Alpha's founders. As noted above, the success of individual Fraternity members is one way. Another way to look at the progeny of the founders and review the number of them who like the founders sought to live the motive, philosophy and purpose of the Fraternity by either founding and/or combating problems of race through organizations. This article will briefly profile five such organizations, showing the involvement of Fraternity members in each group's formation and/or early development. All five of the organizations, the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the Council of African Affairs, the Negro Alliance and the National Urban League, have had a profound impact on the elevation of the race. But, before a profile of the enumerated organizations is done, it is necessary that we review the motive, philosophy and purpose behind the founding and operation of Alpha Phi Alpha. The foundation laid by our founders was foolproof in guaranteeing the organization's success.
I
AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY EDITION
Founder Henry Arthur Callis identified the Fraternity's motive at its founding, saying: Two motives inspired our founders in 1906; to stimulate our young people to stay in school and to unite our college men in the fight for full American citizenship.1
Brother Callis further noted that the purpose of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at its founding was: Alpha Phi Alpha was born in the shadows of slavery, on the lap of disfranchisement. We proposed to foster scholarship and excellence among students; to bring leadership and vision to the social problems of our communities and the nation; to fight with courage and self-sacrifice, every bar to the democratic way of life. So long as we swerve not from these purposes, Alpha Phi Alpha lives.2
Brother Callis, often called the conscience of the Fraternity, stated in a 1954 address to the General Convention that: [Alpha's] philosophy of present and future leadership must be based solely upon our motto: "Servants of All, We Shall Transcend All."3
To understand how the Fraternity's motive, purpose and philosophy were developed, it is necessary to return to 1905 and the Social Study Club that preceded the organization's founding. It was in the Social Study Club that the seeds for the motive, philosophy and purpose of Alpha Phi Alpha were planted and germinated. All of the Fraternity founders except Jewel Eugene Kinckle Jones were members of the Social Study Club. The club was formed in Fall 1905 as a mutual-support organization for African-American students on the predominantly white campus. It was a way for them to meet each other, to gain benefit from the experiences of older African-American students on the campus and to discuss issues facing the race. Social Study Club members were especially interested in the ongoing discourse between W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington. As college students at any Ivy League university, the club members were particularly drawn to Brother DuBois. He called for the "Talented Tenth" of the race to pursue academic training and then return to the race as a cadre of leadership for the masses of African-Americans.